*Some spring pictures*

First, I got this shot a couple days ago when I heard mourning doves cooing to each other outside, and one sounded very close. Well he was! He was on the deck right outside and I managed to get a shot of him right as he was cooing. It is taken through the glass door so isn't quite as clear as I'd like but I still like the shot.

http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...arden/dove.jpg

Next, these are from today. There are few things I enjoy more than the sights and smells of the outdoors after a spring rain. Everything looks so clean and vibrant, and smells so fresh and earthy. I decided to take a few pictures after we got a bit of rain and then the sun came out.

First couple show some of the beautiful thunderheads nearby.

http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...en/clouds1.jpg

http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...en/clouds2.jpg

Just a shot of the back yard.
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...n/backyard.jpg

Some columbine that I started last year coming up.
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/.../columbine.jpg

And purple cone flowers
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...oneflowers.jpg

This is a project my husband is working on that he started last year. He recently got some hostas to add, there also should be some blue colored hostas coming up soon. The mulch is around new shoots of creeping phlox coming up, and the barrells to add some annuals to soon.
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...hostastree.jpg

Day lillies coming up.
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...daylillies.jpg

Few more coming :)

I was about to take a picture of this duck when Tasha spotted him. :rolleyes:
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/.../tashaduck.jpg

Tasha taking a drink out of the 'doggie pool'
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/.../tashapool.jpg

Tommy... sorry I cannot get a picture of him without a log when he is outside :p
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...rden/tommy.jpg

The indoor seedlings, coming along.
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/.../seedlings.jpg

These are marigolds in front, poppies in the back.
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...andpoppies.jpg

Tomatoes and peppers
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...andpeppers.jpg

And the last two are of my two African violets, both in bloom right now.
http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...ioletspink.jpg

http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...oletpurple.jpg

Hope you liked!

Gorgeous pictures!
I looove the mourning dove cooing - you must have really scrambled for your camera!
Your yard looks amazing! I can't believe how green it is already - I mean, it hasn't been all that long since the snow melted.
I look forward to seeing more pictures as more plants start to come up and as you put the seedlings in the ground! Exciting!

I have a lingering memory from when I was about 4 or 5 years old - I was always wondering what the heck my Mom was doing down in the basement with all those bright lights and black pots. I was probably too short to even see the seedlings! She used to do landscape design when we lived in Ohio and so she was getting a head start on spring. But at the time I really had no clue! I thought it was so strange!!! None of my friends had bright lights in their basements! :p
She would love these pictures - I think I'll send her the link!

Beautiful although I cracked up at the "purple cone flowers" - I didn't know you could grow cones and purple ones to boot! :p :D

Lovely photos as usual, Jess!:) Wow, the garden's really coming along; the yard's looking so beautiful! I'm going to love seeing pics of your shaded area filled with hosta and creeping phlox! I have a perennial pair of mourning dove visitors too. Don't you love to watch them preen and coo to each other? Tommy with his log, lol! What a silly boy! He's so, so sweet Jess! And there's Tasha, doing her gazelle imitation again!:D Imgaine that, their very own doggie pool:) Great pics Jess! Hugs to T&T!

Thank you for the compliments! :D. I'm flattered you would want to share the link with your Mom Kater :)

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I didn't know you could grow cones and purple ones to boot!

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LOL I hadn't thought of that before. I will take lots of pictures of my purple cones when they bloom :D

Sandra, isn't Tommy a silly boy? I should call him Tommy the Lumberjack, LOL! :D

Thanks much for all the kind words :)

Your garden is so green and lovely :) That's really going to inspire me to work hard over winter so I can do some planting in spring. I bought a jacaranda tree a few weeks ago, and am busting for winter to be over so I can plant my favourite tree in the whole world!

I love your seedling setup. I am a professional at buying from seed catalogues, but a numpty at growing them. :o

Beautiful pictures! I especially love the one of Tasha chasing the duck...what a cutie. :D

Wow! Great pics! Looks like spring has finally arrived in Minnesota! ;) Your yard is huge!!!

Ps. We have lots of cooing doves outside our house these days.........I'll have to try to get a picture too! :D